Jon Tucker

In this black and white edition of a truly remarkable collection of maritime tales, Jon Tucker brings humour and insight into the lifestyle which he and his red-haired teenage wife began when they set out to build the traditional ocean-going ketch that was to become their home for decades (along with their expanding family of five adventurous sons).

When a group of young Australian and Kiwi sailing friends are allowed to camp in New Zealand'sBay of Islands. they discover something very unexpected on a tiny nearby rocky islet. Fresh culturaland environmental insights are introduced with the arrival of a pair of local Maori childrenwho bring humour and resilience while facing problems that threaten to turn their lives upside-down.. The underlying message that modern youngsters are capable of overcoming challenges without constantadult supervision will appeal to any free-spirited reader in the nine to ninety-nine age bracket.

B&W edition] In the summer of 2006, a thirty one year old expat Kiwi, Ben Tucker, set off from Tasmania in his small home-built yacht with the tentative goal of reaching mainland Antarctica. As crew he had recruited his youngest brother Matt. His destination was the remote Mawson's hut at Cape Denison - statistically the windiest sea-level location on the planet - with a possible diversion to the South Magnetic Pole. His budget could not even stretch to a second-hand radar.... This fascinating voyage is recounted by his father Jon, who was allowed to join his sons as their cabin-boy at the last minute - on the promise of good behaviour. This black and white edition has been produced as an alternative to the colour first edition.

Fin has always been passionate about fishing, so when he discovers an illegal net full of undersized fish in Sydney's northern waterways, his first reaction is to empty it. The subsequent events turn a joint Kiwi-Australian family holiday into a rather more complex experience. This deeply satisfying Ransome inspired tale has strong appeal to older readers as well as their grandchildren. Underlying a clear environmental message is the conclusion that modern children can still find adventure when their parents are prepared to give them a little trust and freedom. SHORTLISTED FOR 2015 AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

When three Australian children try chasing a couple of home-alone kids who live on an old barge in New Zealand's Bay of Islands, they soon find themselves heavily involved in a conflict with one of the local oyster-farmers. The outcome is a triumph of lateral thinking, and a signal to youngsters that it is possible to bring about positive change in the world. A fast-paced boating adventure which brings the Ransome genre squarely into the 21st century and promises to capture the imagination of even the most reluctant young reader.

When a Tasmanian sailing family anchors near an old wrecked hulk in New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds, the kids discover a strangely abandoned campsite nearby, with plates of uneaten food and young children's toys still visible under the mould and cockroaches. Their curiosity leads to an investigation which adds a layer of intrigue to their anticipated fun-filled experiences in an unfamiliar foreign land. This thought-provoking Ransome inspired tale has strong appeal to adventure-loving readers in the nine to ninety-nine age bracket. Underlying its clear environmental theme is the conclusion that freedom and responsibility go hand in hand.